Teacher’s union disappointed by Dickson decision

BRIDGEPORT — They may have supported Sauda Baraka for re-election Tuesday, but leaders of the Bridgeport Education Association say they were disappointed by the returning board member’s decision to suspend rather than fire Tisdale Principal Carmen Perez Dickson.

Gary Peluchette, a Winthrop teacher and president of the BEA said Wednesday that if a teacher did what Dickson had done, termination would have occured and much quicker.

Dickson, while on paid leave, underwent more than a year long investigation followed by a five-month hearing that resulted in a split baord 4-to-3 vote to suspend Dickson without pay for six months followed by counseling and reassignment, first to a non-principal role then as principal somewhere other than Tisdale.

A number of parents expressed outrage after the decision. A number of teachers are apparently upset too.

Nonetheless, Peluchette said the union continued to support Baraka for relection based on other factors.

Baraka, who said she made the decision based on the facts as they were presented, was one of five school board members elected to four year terms and was the only incumbent. Baraka, according to unconfirmed figures, recieved 1823 votes in the election, making her the fourth highest vote getter.

She was the only board member to vote for suspension that was on Tuesday’s ballot.